Planned
maintenance and repairs to the Tuapeka Mouth Ferry have been prioritised under
Council?s Bridge Repairs Contract 2012/13, recently awarded to SouthRoads Ltd.

Manager
District Assets Jules Witt said operation of the ferry, also known as the
Tuapeka Mouth Punt, was at this stage still expected to resume in late March as
previously advised.

Operation of the ferry was initially suspended on January 10 due to flooding and
high flows on the Clutha River. It was subsequently suspended further as a
result of damage to the ramp anchor point on the Tuapeka Mouth side.

The
Bridge Repairs Contract includes repair and maintenance work to the ferry,
including replacing the timber deck and handrails on both ramps, replacing steel
beams on one ramp, and construction of a new anchor system.

Mr Witt
said this work had been given first priority under the contract to ensure the
ferry was operational again as soon as possible.

The
Tuapeka Mouth Ferry is located around 30km north-west of Balclutha. It normally
crosses the Clutha River daily between 8am and 10am, and 4pm and 6pm.

Mr Witt
said the historic punt was used mainly as a tourist attraction, but some locals
also used it on a regular basis and Council apologised for any inconvenience
caused.